Miguel Arteta to Direct Disney’s ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY

Disney has found a new director for the adaptation of the Judith Viorst children’s book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. A few weeks ago, The Kids Are All Right helmer Lisa Cholodenkoexited the project, but now Deadline reports that Disney is in talks with Miguel Arteta (Cedar Rapids) to direct. Cholodenko wrote the script alongside Rob Lieber, but it’s unknown if Arteta will commission a rewrite or if they’ll go ahead and move forward with the existing screenplay.

Steve Carell is attached to star in the film, which centers on a kid who wakes up with gum in his hair and whose day goes downhill from there. Production is hoping to get underway this fall, and with a new director already in place it appears that Disney will indeed make that start date. Arteta has plenty of experience blending comedy with drama as he previously helmed the features Youth in Revolt and Cedar Rapids, as well as a number of TV episodes for shows like Enlightened, Six Feet Under, and New Girl.

COLLIDER participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means COLLIDER gets paid commissions on purchases made through our links to retailer sites. Our editorial content is not influenced by any commissions we receive.